Chapter Sixteen: The Last Scene Of Struggling
Manny couldn't be happier. She had a loving husband, four beautiful children, a wonderful best friend, and felt safe and secure in her huge home. She had a restraining order against Matt and he couldn't bother them now. And Craig was still in jail. That was like the icing on the cake.
At this point in time, Manny was sitting in the living room watching television. Jimmy was already at work, and Bella was sleeping soundly in Manny's arms. Emma, Lily, Lucas, and Jonathan were all still sleeping, tucked away in their beds. A knock on the door startled Manny. She jumped a little, but then realized that it must be the neighbors. They were supposed to be stopping by today.
"Who is it?" she yelled, just to be sure. Bella wiggled in her arms, but stayed sleeping. No one answered her, but the knocking came louder the second time. She put Isabella down in her playpen and was walking towards the door when the person knocked yet again. "I'm coming!" she yelled. She opened the door and nearly fell backwards as the person charged by her and into the house.
"Where is Paige?" he yelled. Bella immediately began crying.
"Get out of here Matt! She's not here, and I won't tell you where she went!" Manny screamed. "We have a restraining order on you!"
"You think I really care? Do you think Jimmy can save you now?" Matt yelled. He slapped Manny across the face. "Tell me where she is or I'll beat it out of you!" Manny didn't say a word, she simply spit right in his face. "You little bitch!" he punched her in the face and knocked her to the ground. "Tell me now," he hissed, kneeling on the ground next to her. "You want a repeat of ten years ago?" Tears streamed down Manny's cheeks as she saw a flash of Matt raping her. "Just tell me and I'll let you go. No one has to get hurt here."
"I'll never tell," she spat. She closed her eyes and felt Matt rip her pants off. Just as he reached for her underwear, she heard a thud and felt him come crashing down on top of her, momentarily knocking the wind out of her. When she opened her eyes, she saw Chris dragging Matt's body to the side. He knelt down beside her and picked her up, holding her in his arms.
"Shh, it's okay." Manny cried into his shoulder for a few minutes before she choked out a few words.
"Is he…dead?" she whispered.
"No, I don't think so. I didn't hit him that hard." As he said this, Manny noticed the baseball bat lying on the ground. "But we better call the police before he wakes up. You okay?" he asked her. She simply nodded her head, and Chris hugged her. He was looking into her eyes, and Manny was sure that he was going to kiss her, but he stood up and picked up the phone to call the police. After he dialed the number, he held the phone between his ear and his shoulder, helped Manny off the floor and onto the couch, and picked up Bella to calm her down. Emma appeared at the top of the stairs, rubbing her eyes.
"What's going on? I heard a bunch of screaming," she said. She walked halfway down the stairs and saw Matt lying on the ground. "Is he dead?" she gasped. Before anyone answered her, Matt's arm moved, followed by his leg. He was regaining consciousness.
"Chris, he's waking up!" Manny warned him. Chris had just hung up the phone.
"They're on their way," he informed her. He handed Isabella over to Manny and picked up the baseball bat, making his way over to Matt. He held the bat right over Matt's head. When he opened his eyes, he saw Chris there, and tried to get up.
"Make one move and I'll bash your pretty little face in," Chris sneered. Matt put his head back down and lay there until the police showed up. He was arrested for violating his restraining order, charged with assault, and would be going back to jail for at least a year. When the police were finished talked to Manny and Chris about the situation, they left, leaving Emma still a little confused.
"How did he get in here?" she asked. Manny sighed.
"He kept knocking on the door so loudly that I just opened it without looking to see who it was first. I'm such an idiot."
"Don't say that. You had no idea that he would be the one knocking on the door," Chris said, throwing an arm around her protectively. Emma's eyes became slits as she scowled at him.
"And how is it that you showed up here?" she asked him.
"I was coming by to see the kids. When I saw Matt's car outside, I grabbed the baseball bat out of my trunk. I knew there would be trouble, and I was right," he explained. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked Manny again.
"Yes, I'll be fine. I'm gonna go cook breakfast." She stood up, handed her daughter to Emma, and left the room. Emma and Chris were sitting in silence until Emma walked over to the couch and plopped down next to him.
"I want you to stop doing that," she said to him.
"Doing what?" he asked innocently.
"Putting your arm around Manny, and constantly touching her leg or hand. I see it every time you do it. You're not going to break up her marriage," Emma said angrily.
"I'm not trying to break her marriage up. I love her too much to do something like that to her," he said, sighing. "Besides, I think I'm interested in someone else."
"Really, who?" Emma asked. Chris didn't answer; he simply looked into Emma's eyes. She backed away slowly, and stood up. "I'm gonna go help Manny in the kitchen." She handed the baby to Chris and got up. During her short walk out of the room, Emma could feel Chris' eyes on her. She shuddered and brushed it off. Chris didn't really like her. Did he?
"Em, I think I want to move," Manny said suddenly when her best friend entered the room.
"What? Where?" Emma asked.
"I just think it would be better if we left here. I don't want to be near Matt, or Craig, or Chris for that matter. I really think it's time we moved."
"But where are you gonna go?"
"To the states I think. Somewhere near Paige. We can get a big house that's actually wheelchair accessible, and even with a bedroom downstairs for Jonathan," Manny explained.
"Well, you shouldn't be talking to me about this. You really need to talk to Jimmy," Emma told her.
"You're right. I'll ask him as soon as he gets home from work. I'm thinking that he could take the kids on a vacation, and then we can have a birthday party for the twins that can double as a going away party. Then we can move in time for the kids to start at a new school. As much as I'd like them to go to Degrassi, I think we'd all be safer away from here."
"That's a good idea Manny. You just need to talk it over with your husband."
Lily, Lucas, and Jonathan got up when they smelled breakfast cooking. Manny made extra helpings, and set another place at the table for Chris. They all ate silently, Manny still a little shaken up by the morning's events. Chris kept glancing at Manny and Emma, as if choosing which woman he wanted to be with. The kids, not even knowing of what had taken place, were just happy to be eating with their family. Not one of them seemed to notice that Chris was at the table instead of their father. Of course, Chris was really the father of all three of them, but not everyone knew that.
A/N: Sorry it's so short…the only thing I had planned for this chapter was the Matt thing. The next chapter should be interesting.
